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Obsidian and Metapelite


Metapelite and Obsidian


Definition

Definition
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth   
Metapelite is an old and currently not widely used field geological term for a clay rich fine-grained clastic sediment or sedimentary rock, i.e. mud or a mudstone   

History
  
  

Origin
Ethiopia   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Obsius   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius   
From Pelos or clay in Greek   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Opaque Rock   
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Glassy   
Foliated   

Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow   
Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Green, Light Greenish Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Shiny   
Banded   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration   
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone   

Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points   
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

Medical Industry
Surgery   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums   
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian   
Not Available   

Features
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression   
Easily splits into thin plates, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.   
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Metapelite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Not Available   
Albite, Chlorite, Quartz   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, MgO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5-5.5   
5-6   

Grain Size
Not Applicable   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Fibrous   

Streak
White   
Unknown   

Porosity
Very Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Vitreous   
Earthy   

Compressive Strength
0.15 N/mm2   
33
Not Available   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Not Available   

Toughness
Not Available   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7   
3.4-3.7   

Transparency
Translucent   
Opaque   

Density
2.6 g/cm3   
0-300 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
0.72 kJ/Kg K   
20

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia   
Not Yet Found   

Africa
Kenya   
Western Africa   

Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey   
United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, Mexico, USA   
Not Available   

South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru   
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand   
Central Australia, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Obsidian and Metapelite Properties

Know all about Obsidian and Metapelite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Obsidian belongs to Igneous Rocks while Metapelite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Obsidian is Glassy whereas that of Metapelite is Foliated. Obsidian appears Shiny and Metapelite appears Banded. The luster of Obsidian is vitreous while that of Metapelite is earthy. Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas Metapelite is available in dark greenish - grey, green, light green, light greenish grey colors. The commercial uses of Obsidian are creating artwork, mirror, used in aquariums and that of Metapelite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.

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